The Marradith Ryder Series, Part 44
Nora Ryder almost didn’t recognize her own daughter when she saw her.
Marradith was standing outside when their car pulled up. Danny was the first out, hugging his sister before anyone else got the chance. Paul climbed out, and of course, the consummate Daddy’s girl, she ran to him.
Marradith did look well, she thought. But something was different. Had she grown a little? Her face seemed thinner. Maybe she’d lost some weight, not that she needed to.
She looked more grown up.
When she hugged Marradith, she felt tears welling in her eyes, but she swiped at them with her fingers. Everyone was talking at once, she couldn’t really hear what they were all saying.
Nora was aware of Justin Granthem.
He was standing a little to the side, watching as always. She was reminded of the times that he’d dropped in on them to check on Marradith’s progress when she was little. The look on his face this time was something completely different. He was smiling.
He was pleased that she was happy.
Oh my, Nora thought.
Marradith was chattering at hyper speed as they entered the house. Something about the house being left to them and how they were all going to live here. Justin shot her a look and she stopped mid sentence and said “What?”
“Ryder…” he said. “Never mind.”
She rolled her eyes at him and kept going. Marradith linked her arm with Nora’s and they walked into the living room together.
********************
Danny trailed behind.
He was happy to see his sister, but it was obvious the grown ups were going to be talking too much as usual.
So he decided to go upstairs and have a look around.
He needed to know what it was going to be like if he was living there.
Up the stairs, he entered a long hallway, full of doors.
He picked the second door on the left.
It was locked.
Placing his hand over the knob, he held it for just a second, until the metal warmed under his touch.
The knob turned easily beneath his fingers.
He walked in the room. His breath caught.
Every inch of the walls were covered by photos. Pictures of Marradith. Pictures of their old house. He even caught a glimpse of himself in one, playing guitar on the edge of his bed, and Marradith sitting on the floor, listening to him.
“These were left by the bad man,” Shadow said. “Don’t worry, he can’t hurt her now.”
Danny looked up. It was the first time he’d actually seen her. But he’d heard her voice so many times, there was no mistaking it.
“How come you never tell me your name? You don’t want me to call you Shadow forever, do you?”
She smiled. “I guess if you’re going to be living here, I should tell you. It’s nice to meet you formally, Daniel,” she said. “But I’ll only tell you if you can keep it a secret.”
“Sure,” he said. He knew how to keep secrets. No one, except maybe Marradith, would believe even half the things he knew about, anyway.
“My name is Caroline,” she said.
***********************
Fiona stopped because she saw the door was ajar.
She had the room locked herself. So how was the door open?
She peaked in, and was surprised to see the boy there, staring at the pictures.
“Hello,” she said softly.
The boy turned and smiled at her. “Hello Fi.”
She blinked. “You must be Danny.”
“Yes. I’m sorry. Would you like to be called Ms. Shepherd? Marradith says
people call you Fi.”
“Whatever you like, Danny.” She came in and stood beside him. “I haven’t decided what to do with these pictures,” she said. “I am not sure that your sister will want them.”
He nodded, as if this were totally understandable. As if he knew why it would be.
He looked up at her with a little smile. It must be fun to be other people sometime, he thought. A shape shifter. But he didn’t say anything, because he was not supposed to know.
“Are you hungry?” Fiona asked. “I’d be happy to see what we can whip up in the kitchen. Maybe see what the others are up to?”
“Yeah, I am a little hungry.”
She smiled and lead him out of the room.
Danny didn’t look back, but knew that Caroline was still in the shadows, watching.
Fiona closed the door behind her, because she didn’t have the key with her to lock it. Days later she noticed the metal was slightly warped, and that the door would never close properly again.
©2009 Lori Titus
Lori Titus is the Managing Editor for Flashes in the Dark, and Short Story Editor for Sonar4 Ezine. Her work has been included in three anthologies so far. Most recently her stories appeared in Mausoleum Memoirs, and Toe Tags: 21 Spine-Tingling Stories by the Best New Authors in Horror. Meanwhile, she continues to write The Marradith Ryder Series, posted here weekly. For more info, see her blog at :
http://loribeth215.wordpress.com
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October 12th, 2009 at 6:19 am
A bit late getting here to read this, but just wanted to let you know I’m still hooked to the storyline. You’ve created a fantastic world.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Thank you!